Serving the needs of the
citizens and businesses
of Butler Township
FALL 2015
Be sure to vote November 3
Voters to decide
limited home rule for
Township government
Butler Township trustees have placed on
the November 3 ballot a measure that would
allow the Township to exercise limited powers
of local self-government as well as limited
police powers.
An important point for voters to understand is
that adopting the limited home rule form of
government does not mean higher taxes.
Here are some commonly asked questions
about limited home rule government:
How is the limited home
rule form of government
different from what we
have now?
Leaf pick-up will be provided as part of
your trash removal service again this fall.
Here are the details:
Leave your filled leaf bags out for pick-up
on your regular trash service day from
October 13 through December 15.
DO NOT rake your leaves into the street
or gutter. They will not be picked up from
there.
If you have questions about leaf pick-up,
please contact please contact Rumpke
Waste at 461-0004 or Butler Township
at 898-6735.
Under the proposed “limited home rule”
government, Township trustees would
be able to adopt resolutions in areas that
are currently not within its authority
as a statutory township.
Nearly 50 Ohio townships have
adopted home rule government.
Leaf pickup service
scheduled
Butler Township is currently a statutory
township, which means it has only the
powers granted to it by the state of Ohio.
The Township government may adopt zoning
regulations, create a police and/or fire
district, impose civil fines for property
maintenance and traffic violations and
provide general maintenance of township
roads and cemeteries.
Continued on Page 3
www.butlertownship.com
In This Issue
Safety grant.......................................................... 2
Officer’s Night Out................................................ 3
Change your batteries........................................... 3
2nd annual Cruise-In recap................................... 4
Trick or Treat time................................................. 4
Safety grant pays
for Township’s
bucket lift
In recent years, the Butler Township staff
has been working closely with the safety
coordinator from the Bureau of Worker’s
Compensation (BWC) to determine ways to
improve employee safety.
When asked if they had particular requests
for safety equipment, Service Department
Supervisor Doug Brunk recommended
the purchase of a bucket lift. He felt the
Department could use this equipment
instead of ladders and other less safe means
to replace street signs and traffic lights, trim
trees in the right-of-way and complete other
general maintenance tasks. It could also be
needed in emergency situations, such as a
severe weather event.
“We felt that this intervention was the
perfect opportunity to make working
conditions safer for our Service Department
employees,” said Assistant Township
Administrator Erika Vogel.
The Township applied for a Bureau of
Worker’s Compensation grant and received
$31,500 toward the $42,000 cost of the bucket
lift. The Township’s match was $10,500.
The bucket lift was put into service in July,
following training on the equipment.
“The bucket lift will greatly reduce the
risk of potential injuries,” Vogel said.
“The new equipment will allow our
employees to feel more confident and
secure when performing their job duties
at difficult heights.”
Perfect time to prevent crime
As you create your to-do list for fall clean
up around the yard, be sure to include some
simple tasks that will help protect you, your
loved ones and property from crime.
Here are some ideas:
give the neighbor permission to inspect the
property during your absence. Encourage a
call to the police if something doesn’t look
right. Officers never consider it a bother,
and they will always respond.
Trim the bushes. Cut back – or even remove
– bushes that criminals can hide behind.
Stand in the street and look closely at where
a thief could hide. Criminals work in the dark
and shadows. If they have nowhere to hide,
they might move on.
Inspect door and window locks. Be sure
your door locks feel tightly secured with no
“play” or looseness. Any gap between the
door knob and the door makes it easy for a
criminal to pry it open. Check all window
locks, as well.
Turn on the lights. Inspect your outdoor
lighting. Clean the glass on light fixtures.
If a lightbulb has discoloration, it’s probably
ready to burn out; so change it. In dark areas,
consider adding a motion-detector light
fixture. Most importantly, turn those lights on!
Lock car doors. Also, remove or
hide any valuables inside.
Talk to neighbors. Make the commitment to
watch out for each other. Let your neighbors
know when you’ll be gone. If it’s feasible,
“Crime prevention involves all of us,” said
Butler Township Police Detective Kevin
Sink. “The police count on you to be their
eyes and ears in your neighborhood.”
To contact the Police Department,
call 233-2080 anytime, day or night.
Safety first
during open
burning
Although outdoor recreational fires
can be an enjoyable activity, safety
precautions and fire code regulations
must be followed. No permit is required
in Butler Township.
Always have a way to extinguish the
fire, whether it’s a garden hose or fire
extinguisher, in case of an emergency.
Also ensure that everyone – especially
children – keeps a safe distance away
from the fire.
For more information on open burning,
please visit the Township’s website at
www.butlertownship.com. Click on the
Fire Department link, where you will find
the Open Burn Provisions for further
guidance and regulations.
-2-
McAlister’s Deli
open for business
Butler Township’s newest eatery was recently opened
with an official ribbon cutting. McAlister’s Deli at
6685 Miller Lane offers a variety of sandwiches,
baked potatoes, salads, soups, sweets and sweet tea.
Stop in for great meal.
Limited Home Rule — continued from Page 1
Limited home rule expands the powers of
a statutory township, permitting the trustees
to enact legislation not specifically prohibited
by the Ohio Revised Code.
What specifically can the
trustees do under limited
home rule?
•Regulating emergency traffic, parking,
activities of transient dealers, solicitors
and street vendors as well as public
gatherings and concerts
•Working with other political jurisdictions
•Impounding animals, and
•Regulating part-time employment
of off-duty police officers.
Under limited home rule, Butler Township
trustees would be permitted to enact
legislation in these areas:
What is the Township
prohibited from doing
under limited home rule?
•Setting curfew restrictions for minors
•Limiting speed on township roadways
•Passing nuisance and
public-safety resolutions
•Prohibiting the storage of
abandoned junk vehicles
•Enacting legislation to
control noise and lighting
No resolution adopted by the trustees may be
in conflict with the laws of the state of Ohio.
This means that the Township MAY NOT…
•Impose new taxes unless voted
upon by the general population
•Modify the structure of the
township government
Officer’s Night Out:
Year FOUR and Growing!
The Butler Township Police Department
and the Stonespring Transitional Care
Center hosted the fourth annual Officer’s
Night Out on August 4.
•Create criminal offenses
or impose criminal penalties
•Revise subdivision regulations, road
construction standards, storm water
regulations or building code
requirements, or
•Establish regulations regarding
hunting, trapping, fishing or the
possession, use or sale of firearms.
If passed, when would the
new form of government
go into effect?
If the home rule issue is approved
by the voters, it will become effective
January 1, 2016.
If you have questions about the proposed
limited home rule government, please call
Township Administrator Kim Lapensee at
898-6735 during business hours.
Every bedroom
needs a working
smoke alarm
“Hear the BEEP where you SLEEP” is Fire
Prevention Week’s life-saving message for 2015.
Amid the family fun of inflatable slides,
an obstacle course, ball houses, pony rides,
food vendors, members of the Police and
Fire departments spent time with township
residents in a relaxed and informal setting.
According to the National Fire Protection
Association, about one-half of all US home
fire deaths occur at night between 11 p.m.7 a.m. A working smoke alarm in the home
reduces the risk of dying by half.
“Our goal is to build closer working
and personal relationships with the people
we serve,” said Police Chief John Cresie.
“There was a lot of good company, good
food and fun to go around.”
The Butler Township Fire Department
and the Association recommend placing a
working smoke alarm in every bedroom.
It is also important to have a working smoke
alarm in the hallway between the bedrooms
and on every level of the home.
Thanks to all residents who participated,
and a special thanks to Stonespring
Transitional Care Center for supporting
Officer’s Night Out every year.
Change your clock,
change your batteries
You should also test your smoke alarm
regularly and replace the batteries when
needed. Make it your routine to change the
batteries when you change your clocks to
daylight saving time on November 1 and
back again on March 13, 2016.
“We’ve already started planning for next
year, and we’re looking forward to seeing
even more people there,” Cresie said.
-3-
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
Paid
Permit 137
Dayton, OH
3510 Sudachi Dr.
Dayton, OH 45414
Township Trustees
(937) 898-6735
Doug Orange, President - x1196
Michael Lang, Vice President - x1199
Nicholas Brusky, Trustee - x1197
Mark Adams, Fiscal Officer
(937) 898-6735 - x1198
Kim Lapensee, Administrator
(937) 898-6735 - x1121
Erika Vogel, Ass’t Twp Admin.
(937) 898-6735 x1113
John Cresie, Police Dept.
(937) 890-2671
Dan Alig, Fire Dept.
(937) 890-2491
Doug Brunk, Public Works
(937) 890-1218
Trash Department
(937) 898-6735
Zoning Department
(937) 898-6735 - x1111
Police, Non-emergency
(937) 890-2671
Fire, Non-emergency
(937) 890-2491
Trick or treat time
All the tiny ghosts and goblins will be
taking to the streets for Beggars’ Night,
Saturday, October 31, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Parents, be sure that you and your
youngsters play it safe during and after
the trick-or-treating fun.
If you’re driving during this time,
please watch out for the children.
Partners make 2nd Annual
Cruise-In a success
The weather was beautiful and the crowd was great at the 2nd Annual Cruise-In to Butler
Township on August 22. Participants registered 52 vehicles, and proceeds were donated to
Dayton Children’s Medical Center.
We would like to thank all of our wonderful co-sponsors, including Abbey Credit Union,
Day Air Credit Union, The Digital Cowboy, Mid USA Credit Union, Universal 1 Credit Union,
the Vandalia-Butler Chamber of Commerce and Walmart, for making this event a success.
-4-